After getting unceremoniously dumped by Manitoba’s reigning Canadian champion Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham seriously contemplated freelancing for other teams during the cashspiel season. But Overton-Clapham will soon finalize a team that will compete for the 2011 Manitoba women’s title.

“I’m planning to play in the playdowns, I just haven’t finalized my team yet,” Overton-Clapham said Monday.

Overton-Clapham, who played third for Jones when she won the 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Canadian crowns, as well as the ’08 women’s world title and bundles full of cash, has admitted talking to Raunora Westcott about playing together next year. Westcott, who played lead for Manitoba champion Jill Thurston last year but has since parted ways, would likely bring second Leslie Wilson with her.

Overton-Clapham has denied it previously, but some rumours persist that she will play with Manitoba junior women’s champion Breanne Meakin, who will be eligible to play in both women’s and juniors this season. There are other possibilities, such as former Canadian junior champ, Nancy Smith (nee Malanchuk).

“I don’t want to say anything until it’s finalized,” said Overton-Clapham, who has already been asked to play for Sweden’s Cecilia Ostlund at a cashspiel in London, Ont. Swedish skip Anette Norberg, who just won the Olympic gold medal in Vancouver, has joined Ostlund’s team but will not be in London.

The CCA has also hired Overton-Clapham to take part in its revived La Releve program for promising curlers under 35, and she will be working with P.E.I.’s Erin Carmody and New Brunswick’s Andrea Kelly, among others

Meanwhile, Overton-Clapham said she has not received a single word — not even an e-mail message — from any of her three former teammates, despite the success they had had together.

BITER:The Curler reports that the CCA has reverted to its policy of one competitor card to cover most events, instead of one for each event entered.